Succulent habitats

Succulent plants are found everywhere, from tropical regions to the arctic circle. They are, however, less common in the areas where frost occurs in winter months. The greatest number of succulents grows in subtropical and tropical zones. Although succulents can occur in dry habitats, in real deserts they are rare. Only the toughest species can grow there, and then only in the hollows or rock crevices, where they can find some moisture. Fog or dew can be a source of water for these plants which have become adapted to it, but the true desert is too arid for any plant life.

In the places which are hot and dry but enjoy a more substantial rainfall, life is more abundant. Because of this regular moisture, the vegetation is more varied, and succulents are abundant. They not only reach the highest concentration of species here, but also the greatest variety of forms.
Many succulents are common in dry woods with
a higher and irregular rainfall, where the dry season is shorter and less severe than in semi-desert.
It is clear that succulents are not always desert plants. They come mostly from the warm and sunny regions with low rainfall, which occurs only in a few months of the year. Most of the succulents flourish in sunlight and warmth but they can also tolerate considerable fluctuations in temperature. But like other plants, they need water for their growth and development, even if they can survive long periods of drought.